Iowa DOT News Release

Iowa Bicycle Summit to be held Jan. 25-26

Posted on: December 05, 2012

AMES, Iowa – Dec. 5, 2012 – The annual Iowa Bicycle Summit will be held Jan. 25 and 26, 2013, at the Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. The gathering will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Last year’s event attracted more than 3,000 attendees and 60 exhibitors, ranging from bike advocacy organizations like Raccoon River Valley Trail Association to bike shops.

On Friday, Jan. 25, the summit will feature guest speakers, workshops and breakout sessions. There is a fee to attend with continuing education credits offered. This year the summit is intended to expand expertise and knowledge to facilitate a larger, more thriving bicycle culture in Iowa. Tom Huber from Toole Design and Arthur Ross from the city of Madison, Wis., will lead a session on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. This session will give transportation officials, city planners and engineers, and bicycling advocates the knowledge they need to implement innovative design solutions, as well as new signs, signals and pavement markings for bicyclists.

In addition, there will be concurrent sessions held Friday to discuss trail development, design and safety, rural community bike planning, complete streets policies, bicycle-friendly communities, bicycle-friendly businesses, blue zones and trails, walking school bus projects, and the U.S. Bike Route System. Finally, the summit will have a new session on funding. The session participants will have the opportunity to meet in small groups with funding coordinators.

Make plans to attend the free Iowa Bike Expo event on Saturday, Jan. 26. This is the perfect opportunity to learn about the best bicycle equipment, optimal riding destinations and future cycling events. Educational seminars will allow present and future cyclists to get in touch with bike advocacy, find the latest consumer trends and learn about new places to ride. The expo is expanding again this year with a 50,000-square-foot space for vendors, organizations and trail groups.

Following the summit on Saturday, the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) will hold a reception fundraiser at 8 p.m. in Des Moines at the Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. The 2013 RAGBRAI route will be announced at this event. The reception will feature a live and silent auction offering great cycling items, as well as door prizes and more. Tickets for the Saturday night event are $30 each, if purchased before Jan. 15. After Jan. 15, tickets will be $35 until the day of the event, when they be increased to $40. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.iowabicyclecoalition.org. All proceeds from the event benefit the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.

Early registration prior to Jan. 8 is recommended. Friday registration is $135 ($160 after Jan. 8) and includes summit materials, lunch and all breaks. There is no cost for attending the Saturday sessions. Lunch on Saturday will be on your own.